Intertoto cup semi-final, first leg

Villarreal 0 - Troyes 0

Villarreal: López Vallejo; Belletti (Galván 85'), Quique Medina, Berruet, Arruabarrena; Galca (Josico 85'), Jorge López; Guayre (Aranda 60'), Víctor, Calleja; Palermo. 4-2-3-1.

Goals: None.

Villarreal have an uphill battle to qualify for the final stage of the competition after being held to a scoreless draw by French side Troyes. Víctor Muñoz was missing the suspended Quique Alvarez, but other than that and the usual change of goalkeepers, he put out the same side who beat Torino on penalties in the last round.

However with visiting keeper Heurtebis in top form, the 'yellow submarine' were unable to find the opposing net. The closest they came was in the second half when Martín Palermo hit the woodwork twice, and they now have to go to France next Wednesday needing at least a score draw to go through to a possible final with Málaga. (31.07.02)